JUST a few years ago Tavistock Clay Pigeon Club was a 'straw bale' club relying on good old-fashioned 'handraulic' traps. Funds have been committed every year to building up a collection of electronic traps and remote releases.

In May 2011 the club was able to stage an ambitious Simulated Game Team Clay which resulted in a donation of £2,000 to Help for Heroes.

Last month witnessed a repeat staging of the event again hosted by the Sydenham Estate in Lewdown, courtesy of the owners Mr and Mrs Graham Hart with the full co-operation of the estate manager, Robert Alexander.

The day was to consist of four man teams shooting 200 clays/'birds' over four stands. Each stand of 50 'birds' represented driven pheasant, driven partridge, decoyed duck and decoyed pigeon.

The highlight of the day for all was undoubtedly the pheasant drive from 'the mound,' one of Sydenham Estate's spectacular drives. Fifty 'birds' were driven from six traps situated well out of sight above trees situated on a high bank. The action was fast and furious and over all too soon for the guns but memorable nonetheless. The drive produced some good scores reflecting the popularity of game shooting.

The partridge drive on the edge of Warren Wood proved far more tricky, while decoyed pigeon was shot while sitting on straw bales while driven duck was situated further down at Blackdown.

The scoreboard at the end of the day saw two teams of the 21 competing tied on 153 ex 200 — Richard Jewell, Andrew Jewell, Nathan Jewell and Robert Coley and 'Peter's Pluckers' — the shoot-off won by the former. Special mention must go to the only all female team the 'Gun Room Girls.'

Alan Clayton, the treasurer of Tavistock Clay Pigeon Club, said the event was a great success and donations from it meant a superb £1,300 each to Help for Heroes and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.